Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
A small derelict parcel of land located adjacent to the south-west corner of the crossroads,
now overgrown with invasive vegetation, emphasises the low level of visual amenity at the
junction.
The junction is visually dominated by the Bewley's Hotel development with its ‘clock tower’
block facing onto the N7, illustrated in Plates 3.5 and 3.6.
The other primary elements of visual significance are the existing light standards along the N7
road corridor and the high volumes of traffic which regularly backs up at the junction. This is
illustrated in Plates 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.
There are areas with a higher level of visual amenity in the adjacent area such as the open
spaces to the north-east, the open space to the west and the Newlands Golf Course to the south
west. While further to the north-west is the high visual amenity area of Corkagh Demesne.
Views toward the existing route corridor are confined to short distance views from the
Fonthill Road, the Belgard Road and along the N7 corridor itself from the east and the west.
There are views towards the site from a small portion of Newlands Golf Course.
There are also views towards the road corridor from Bewley's Hotel and the car showrooms to
the north-west, the upper floors of the Lynch Green Isle Hotel to the west and from the office
development, car showrooms and the housing fronting onto the N7 to the north-east.
Visual Analysis is illustrated in Figure 7.6.
7.4 Predicted Impacts
7.4.1 Characteristics of the Proposal
The proposed upgrade to the N7 Newlands Cross junction will take in approximately 1.8 km
of roadway resulting in a bridge being formed over the existing road junction with the Belgard
/ Fonthill Road (R113) remaining at existing grade and passing underneath the bridge.
The overpass will be along the existing N7 road corridor which is an east – west alignment.
The highest level of the proposed overpass will be approximately 9 metres over existing
ground levels. The construction will be of pre-cast concrete beams supporting an in-situ
concrete deck slab. The approach embankments will be constructed using reinforced earth and
facing panels. Other elements that will form part of the completed scheme will include:
• Lighting
• Signage
• Crash barriers
• Noise barriers
• Landscape planting / visual buffering
Construction of the proposed grade separated junction will take up to two years to complete.
It is proposed to relocate the existing gas pipeline AGI to one of two possible locations
identified within the permanent land-take area as follows:
1. on the derelict area of land adjacent to the south east corner of the existing junction.
2. on a portion of the agricultural land immediately to the south of the existing gas works
building.
December 2007 Page 109